Alt-pop duo Honey and Blue made up of Adam Darling and Stephanie Amber, recently unveiled their new single/music video, “All In My Head.”
Stephanie Amber, a self-proclaimed theater geek raised in New York, cultivated her powerful, Aretha Franklin-influenced vocals at home before briefly attending the American Musical and Dramatic Academy.
On his part, Adam Darling, a native of Columbus, Ohio, drew inspiration from heavier acts like Soundgarden and honed his guitar and vocal finesse by admiring the likes of John Mayer. Together, their musical versatility knows no bounds, effortlessly delving into high-energy blues-rock rumblings and settling into intimate sweet-spot slow-jams, fueled by their undeniable chemistry.
Honey and Blue’s latest single, “All In My Head,” is a masterclass in seductive and narrative-rich songwriting. It all started when Amber found herself captivated by a stranger’s tale at an airport—an enthralling account of flying across the country for a brief six-hour rendezvous with a long-distance partner.
Trading off verse-by-verse, the two reconstruct the desperate love story in all its luscious tension and passion, highlighted by Amber’s delicious voice and Darling’s guitar.
Co-directed by Amber and Darling, the video takes viewers back to high-school days to express the playfulness and optimism that might have informed the cross-country Lovers’ passion. The bubbly video tracks a High School Musical-esque narrative and oozes with ’90s nostalgia.
CelebMix spoke with Stephanie Amber to discover more about the inspiration behind “All In My Head,” and the unique sound of Honey and Blue.
What inspired your new single/music video, “All In My Head?”
Originally inspired by a chance meeting in an airport, ‘All In My Head’ tells the story of what it would look like if we suddenly had to be in a long-distance Relationship. This song articulates two different perspectives, one of fear and doubt, and the other of reassurance and hope. We had an absolute blast creating the music video for ‘All In My Head’ and we were very much inspired by some of our favorite romantic comedies from the late ‘90s and early 2000s. The concept came from a few questions: what would it look like if you woke up one morning and you were back in high school? Would you do things differently? Would you try to get a Date with the coolest guy in school? Would you audition for the school musical? Would you shake things up?
How did you get started in music?
We both have such different origin stories and I think that is what gives us such variety in our songwriting. Adam started playing guitar at a very young age and drew a lot of his inspiration from artists like Soundgarden, Sting, and John Mayer. After self-producing his own music, he moved away from the Midwest to pursue his songwriting career. I grew up in Middletown, NY, listening to Aretha Franklin and all things Motown while pursuing my first love, musical theater. I went to college for musical theater and left early to pursue my own songwriting career. We quickly found each other in LA and our collaboration immediately clicked. We realized that there was something special between us. We decided that in order to submerge ourselves in creating music and commit fully to Honey and Blue, we would have to relocate to Ohio. Since then, we have really figured out who we are as individuals and as artists.
Why do you continue to make music?
This is a big question with a simple answer; It’s what we do. It’s who we are. We are in love with being songwriters and storytellers. It is the best job in the world, and we will continue to create music and art for as long as we possibly can.
Did your sound evolve naturally, or did you deliberately push it in a certain direction?
Our music has evolved naturally. As we have figured out who we are as individuals, as a Couple, and as artists, the music couldn’t help but evolve with us. Currently, there is a strong sense of self that is guiding the new music that we are releasing.
Are there any special recording techniques you use in the studio?
Inspiration can come from anywhere! We have used glass bottles, coffee mugs, and various other household items to create different textures and sounds. We luckily have a small but beautiful home studio that allows us to move freely in our own space without any time constraints. If an idea hits, we go for it!
How do you keep your sound consistent on stage?
A lot of practice and trusting that everyone in the band always brings their talents and hearts to the stage. We ALWAYS give a hug to each member of the band before each performance. It’s a must – it gets us all on the same page before we start.
What’s your definition of tone? And has your tone changed over time, or remained pretty much the same?
Tones to us are simply colors and emotions. We dance between many different styles of music, so every song calls for something different. A classical guitar brings different tones than an electric guitar, both literally and figuratively. The tone ebbs and flows.
How do you keep your sound fresh and avoid imitating yourself or anyone else?
We have so many different influences and we pull from so many real-life inspirations. As long as we remain honest to who we are, it always sounds like Honey and Blue, yet something new…at least the songs we deem worthy of releasing.
What inspires your writing? Do you draw inspiration from poems, music, or other media?
We have always drawn inspiration from the ups and downs of Relationships, and being a couple, ourselves provides us a unique perspective into songwriting that allows for different viewpoints and stories. We’ve been together for ten years and we’ve both led very different lives prior to meeting so luckily there is no lack of material to draw from. At times we are also inspired by other people and their experiences in relationships and in life. If we keep our hearts and eyes open, I don’t think there will ever be a lack of inspiration.
What can you share about your writing process?
Every writing session is a unique process. Sometimes it starts as a guitar loop or a simple melody. We don’t always know where the song will end up, but we try to remain open and nonjudgmental as the pieces fall into place. Sometimes that happens quickly and other times it takes a year or more to get it all right. You just have to trust the process and keep showing up. And once a song is done, you’ll know it in your gut.
Which artists in your opinion are killing it right now?
Olivia Dean, HER, YEBBA… and a small band called Honey and Blue.
What can your fans look forward to over the next six months? Music videos? Live gigs?
Without giving too much away… we have been hard at work in the studio! We are working on new singles, new videos, and creative art. We are pushing ourselves to continually evolve, create, and move up to a new level. We can’t wait for people to meet the new Honey and Blue …: hint, hint: There will be LOTS of color.
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